AMC Networks urged a Georgia appeals court on Thursday to erase an $8.6 million jury verdict in the death of “The Walking Dead” stuntman John Bernecker.
Bernecker died in July 2017 after a 21-foot fall from a balcony. Last December, a jury found AMC’s corporate entity, Twd 8, and its production company, Stalwart Films, liable in his death.
The defendants appealed to the Third Division of the Georgia Court of Appeals, arguing that Bernecker should have been considered an employee, not an independent contractor. That would have forced Bernecker’s parents to go through Georgia’s workers’ compensation system, rather than getting a civil judgment.
A three-judge panel heard arguments on Thursday morning.
“Clearly Mr. Bernecker assumed the risk of his injuries,” said David Dial, arguing for the appellants. “He’s trained in fact to the assume the risk, and he assumed the risk.”
Dial argued that Bernecker’s contract repeatedly referred to him as an “employee,...
Bernecker died in July 2017 after a 21-foot fall from a balcony. Last December, a jury found AMC’s corporate entity, Twd 8, and its production company, Stalwart Films, liable in his death.
The defendants appealed to the Third Division of the Georgia Court of Appeals, arguing that Bernecker should have been considered an employee, not an independent contractor. That would have forced Bernecker’s parents to go through Georgia’s workers’ compensation system, rather than getting a civil judgment.
A three-judge panel heard arguments on Thursday morning.
“Clearly Mr. Bernecker assumed the risk of his injuries,” said David Dial, arguing for the appellants. “He’s trained in fact to the assume the risk, and he assumed the risk.”
Dial argued that Bernecker’s contract repeatedly referred to him as an “employee,...
- 10/22/2020
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
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